AI Summary
Last Updated: October 14, 2026
Five campsites near Edinburgh stay open through winter 2026/27: Mortonhall and the Edinburgh Club Campsite inside the city, Drummohr near Musselburgh, Linwater near East Calder and Beecraigs above Linlithgow. All five take campervans and motorhomes over Christmas and Hogmanay, though Beecraigs closes its tent area in winter.
Planning a festive trip to Scotland’s capital? This guide covers where to pitch, the dates for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay programmes, and how the city’s new 5% visitor levy changes your campsite bill. It also covers getting into the centre by bus or train, so your van can stay parked outside the Low Emission Zone.
No van of your own? Indie Campers has a depot in Edinburgh, so you can pick up a campervan and drive straight to any of the five sites below. Outside the Hogmanay week, winter is a quiet time at most caravan parks near Edinburgh, so book your pitch as soon as your festive dates are fixed.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- Open all winter: Mortonhall, Edinburgh Club Campsite, Drummohr, Linwater and Beecraigs all list year-round opening for 2026/27.
- Closest to the centre: Mortonhall sits about 4 miles south of the city centre, with buses from the park entrance.
- Festive dates: Edinburgh’s Christmas runs 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Hogmanay runs 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027.
- New cost in 2026: pitches inside the City of Edinburgh boundary now carry a 5% visitor levy, capped at five nights.
- Leave the van at your pitch on 31 December. Road closures cover the city centre, and the Low Emission Zone fines non-compliant vehicles from £60.
- Book early for Hogmanay week. Indie Campers bookings can be cancelled up to 31 days before pick-up, which for a Hogmanay rental falls at the end of November.
Table of Contents
- Campsites Near Edinburgh in Winter: at a Glance
- Which Campsites Near Edinburgh Are Open in Winter?
- Christmas and Hogmanay 2026/27: Dates to Plan Around
- The Edinburgh Visitor Levy and Your Campsite Bill
- Getting Into the City From Your Pitch
- Winter Camping in Edinburgh: Practical Tips
- Day Trips From Caravan Parks Near Edinburgh
- Everything You Need to Know About Campsites Near Edinburgh
- Spend Hogmanay in a Campervan With Indie Campers
- FAQs About Campsites Near Edinburgh
Campsites Near Edinburgh in Winter: at a Glance
All five sites below list year-round opening. They differ most on distance to the centre and on whether the Edinburgh visitor levy applies.
| Campsite | Area | Distance to Edinburgh | Getting into town | Winter notes | Edinburgh levy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park | South Edinburgh | About 4 miles to the centre | Buses from the park entrance | Bar and restaurant open all year, wigwams and holiday homes for hire | Yes (inside city boundary) |
| Edinburgh Club Campsite | Silverknowes, north-west Edinburgh | About 3 miles | Bus, or walk the Cramond promenade | 142 of 146 pitches on hardstanding, all with 16-amp hook-up | Yes (inside city boundary) |
| Drummohr Camping & Glamping | Levenhall, near Musselburgh | 10 miles | Bus stop 5 minutes’ walk, Wallyford station 20 minutes’ walk | Electric on every pitch, hot tub lodges | No (East Lothian) |
| Linwater Caravan Park | West Clifton, near East Calder | About 25 minutes by car | Park and ride on the A8 and A71 | Fully serviced hardstanding pitches, family-run, staffed 24 hours | Park applies it |
| Beecraigs Caravan & Camping Site | Beecraigs Country Park, Linlithgow | 2 miles from Linlithgow | Taxi or taxibus from Linlithgow station | Caravans and motorhomes only in winter, no tents | No (West Lothian) |
Read the table as a trade-off. The two city sites cost a little more once the levy is added, but they cut your daily travel time; Drummohr and Beecraigs suit travellers who want the coast or countryside between city days.
Which Campsites Near Edinburgh Are Open in Winter?
Many Scottish campsites open seasonally and close over the winter, so the list near the capital is short. The five sites here all publish year-round opening, and each one has hook-ups for campervans and motorhomes.
Opening dates can change from one season to the next. Before you book, check the site’s own page for the exact dates over Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and confirm your arrival time if you plan to check in on either day.
Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park (Edinburgh, south)
Mortonhall sits in a 200-acre country estate on the south side of the city, about 4 miles from the centre, and is open all year. It is the closest of the five to the Royal Mile, and Alan Rogers notes buses leave from the park entrance every ten minutes.
Pitches come as grass or hardstanding, with or without electricity, and the site also rents holiday homes, wooden wigwams and shepherd huts. In winter the on-site Stable Bar and Restaurant matters more than usual: VisitScotland’s listing confirms it stays open all year, along with a shop, laundry and heated toilet blocks.
Edinburgh Club Campsite (Silverknowes, north-west)
The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Edinburgh site on Marine Drive faces the Firth of Forth and is listed as open from 1 January to 31 December. It has 146 pitches, 142 of them on hardstanding and all with 16-amp electricity, according to Alan Rogers.
Hardstanding is the detail to look for in December, when grass pitches can turn soft after a week of rain. The site also has a motorhome service point and a dog walk through the woodland on site, and the Cramond promenade starts a short walk away.
Drummohr Camping & Glamping (Musselburgh)
Drummohr sits on the East Lothian coast, 2 miles from Musselburgh and 10 miles from Edinburgh. It is listed among Scotland’s all-year campsites on Campsites.co.uk, and every touring pitch has electricity.
The train is the quick way in. Wallyford station is a 20-minute walk, with a large free park and ride and trains to Edinburgh Waverley in about 10 minutes. Because Drummohr is in East Lothian, it sits outside the City of Edinburgh boundary, so the Edinburgh visitor levy does not apply here.
Linwater Caravan Park (West Clifton, near East Calder)
Linwater is a small family-run park west of the city that states it is open all year round. It offers fully serviced hardstanding pitches, standard hardstanding and grass pitches, all with a 16-amp hook-up and a tap.
The park is within 4 miles of Edinburgh Airport, which makes it a practical first or last night if you pick up a campervan on the west side of the city. Edinburgh is about 25 minutes by car, and park and ride sites on the A8 and A71 cover the trip into the centre.
Beecraigs Caravan & Camping Site (Linlithgow)
Beecraigs is a council-run site inside Beecraigs Country Park, in the Bathgate Hills 2 miles south of Linlithgow, and is open all year. It has 26 hardstanding pitches with electric hook-ups, plus two Little Lodges for glamping.
One winter rule matters here: Undiscovered Scotland notes the site stays open to caravans all year but not to tents during winter, which suits campervan and motorhome guests. Linlithgow Palace and the Union Canal are a short drive away, and Glasgow is within easy reach for a two-city trip.
Christmas and Hogmanay 2026/27: Dates to Plan Around
Edinburgh’s Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, across East Princes Street Gardens, West Princes Street Gardens and George Street. Hogmanay follows from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, so a stay between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day covers both programmes.
| Date | Event | Ticket needed? |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 | Christmas market, East Princes Street Gardens (around 70 stalls) | No, free entry |
| 14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 | Festive funfair (West Princes Street Gardens) and ice rink (George Street) | Yes, per ride or session |
| 29 Dec 2026 | Torchlight Procession through the city centre | Free to watch, wristband to carry a torch |
| 31 Dec 2026 (Thursday) | Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and midnight fireworks from the Castle | Yes, for the Street Party and concert |
| 1 Jan 2027 | New Year’s Day events, including the First Footin’ programme | Varies by event |
The Street Party arena is ticketed, so you cannot walk in on the night; sign up for the official Hogmanay newsletter if you want to be inside the arena at midnight.
One planning detail for campervan guests: the Christmas market closes on Christmas Day, according to Pixidia’s 2026 market guide. If 25 December is a quiet day for you anyway, it is a good day for a coastal walk near Drummohr or Cramond instead.
The Edinburgh Visitor Levy and Your Campsite Bill
This is the first Christmas and Hogmanay season with Edinburgh’s visitor levy in place. Since 24 July 2026, the City of Edinburgh Council’s scheme adds 5% to the cost of overnight accommodation inside the city boundary, and it explicitly covers paid caravan and campsite pitches, including campervan pitches.
The levy is charged for a maximum of five consecutive nights. On a £40-a-night pitch that works out at £2 a night, so a stay of five nights or longer adds £10 in total. The rate is the same all year, so there is no festive premium on the levy itself.
Where you pitch decides whether you pay it. Mortonhall and the Edinburgh Club Campsite are inside the city boundary, and Linwater’s booking page states that it applies the levy too. Drummohr (East Lothian) and Beecraigs (West Lothian) sit outside the City of Edinburgh scheme, though it is worth checking each council’s rules before you travel, since other Scottish councils can introduce their own levies.
Getting Into the City From Your Pitch
Park the van at the campsite and use public transport for city days. Edinburgh’s city centre has a Low Emission Zone, enforced since 1 June 2024, that requires diesel vehicles to meet Euro 6 and petrol vehicles to meet Euro 4.
A non-compliant vehicle gets a £60 penalty on its first entry, and repeat entries within 90 days cost more, as Edinburgh Guide reported. Alan Rogers’ review of Mortonhall also flags that parking in Edinburgh is not easy, so the bus or train is the easier choice even with a compliant van.
The good news: none of the five campsites is inside the zone, and the Christmas market is a bus ride from Mortonhall or a train ride from Drummohr. If you are renting, ask at pick-up whether your van meets the LEZ standard before you plan any drive through the centre.
Hogmanay night: road closures and night buses
The council closes roads and restricts parking around the city centre for the Hogmanay events, according to the organisers. On 31 December, plan to reach the centre by bus or train in the afternoon and leave the van at your pitch.
For the trip back after midnight, check Lothian Buses’ Hogmanay night bus timetable once it is published. If you are staying at Drummohr or Linwater, also check the last train and park-and-ride bus times before you head in, since rural routes run less often than city ones.
Winter Camping in Edinburgh: Practical Tips
Winter camping in Edinburgh works best when the pitch does the hard work for you. A hardstanding pitch with an electric hook-up keeps the van level on wet ground and runs a heater without draining the leisure battery.
- Ask for hardstanding when you book. All five sites have it, and at the Edinburgh Club Campsite it covers 142 of 146 pitches.
- Pack for wind and rain as well as cold, plus a second pair of shoes for the cobbles of the Old Town.
- Plan city days around daylight. December days in Scotland are short, so start sightseeing in the morning and save the Christmas market for after dark, when the lights are on.
- Keep a printed copy of your campsite booking and the reception phone number, in case you arrive after hours on a public holiday.
One rule surprises visitors. Scotland’s right of responsible access, set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, does not extend to motorised vehicles, so a campervan overnight on the roadside is not the same as wild camping in a tent. Around Edinburgh in winter, a booked pitch is the straightforward option.
If you are renting, check the dates against the booking terms. With Indie Campers, you can cancel up to 31 days before pick-up and pay the full amount 30 days before it, so for a Hogmanay rental both dates fall at the end of November. Your booking confirmation shows the exact dates.
Day Trips From Caravan Parks Near Edinburgh
A campervan earns its keep on the days between the festive events. Each of the five caravan parks near Edinburgh points toward a different short trip, so pick your pitch with your quiet days in mind.
| Base | Day trip | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Drummohr | North Berwick and the East Lothian coast | Beach walks and harbour towns along the John Muir Way |
| Mortonhall | Pentland Hills | Hillend ski slope is just over a mile from the park, with walking routes into the hills behind it |
| Edinburgh Club Campsite | South Queensferry and the Forth Bridges | Three bridges across the Firth of Forth, a short drive west along the coast |
| Beecraigs | Linlithgow Palace and the Union Canal | The 15th-century palace ruins on Linlithgow Loch, 2 miles from the site |
| Linwater | Almondell and Calderwood Country Park | Riverside walks along the Almond, close to the park |
For a longer loop, Loch Leven in Kinross is about 30 minutes from Edinburgh by road. If you want to finish your trip in Glasgow instead, a one-way rental (check availability for your dates) lets you pick up a campervan in Edinburgh and drop it off in Glasgow, with Beecraigs as a natural halfway stop.
Everything You Need to Know About Campsites Near Edinburgh
The table below pulls the whole guide into one place, for planning a Christmas or Hogmanay stay at campsites near Edinburgh.
| Topic | What to know for 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Campsites open all winter | Mortonhall, Edinburgh Club Campsite, Drummohr, Linwater, Beecraigs |
| Closest to the city centre | Mortonhall, about 4 miles south, buses from the park entrance |
| Best for trains into Edinburgh | Drummohr, 20 minutes’ walk to Wallyford station, about 10 minutes to Waverley |
| Tents in winter | Not at Beecraigs; check the other four directly |
| Edinburgh’s Christmas | 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, market closed on Christmas Day |
| Hogmanay | 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027; Street Party on Thursday 31 December |
| Visitor levy | 5% on pitches inside the City of Edinburgh, capped at five nights |
| Low Emission Zone | City centre; diesel Euro 6, petrol Euro 4, £60 first penalty |
| Overnighting outside campsites | Access rights in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code do not cover motorised vehicles |
| When to book | As soon as your dates are fixed, especially for 29 to 31 December |
If you only remember two rows, make it the levy and the LEZ. Both change what a winter stay in the city costs, and the levy is new this season.
Spend Hogmanay in a Campervan With Indie Campers
Indie Campers has a depot in Edinburgh and a fleet of over 7,000 campervans, motorhomes and RVs, so your festive trip starts at the city’s edge rather than with a long drive north. You can cancel up to 31 days before pick-up and pay the full amount only 30 days before your trip. With pick-up and drop-off points in 70+ locations, you can also end the trip somewhere other than Edinburgh with a one-way rental.
Booking and trip management run online, help is available 24/7 if something goes wrong on a cold night, and company-owned vehicles come with unlimited mileage for the coast and country day trips.
A winter campervan stay suits couples and families who want Christmas markets and the Hogmanay fireworks without booking a city-centre hotel, then a quiet pitch by the coast or in the hills afterwards. It also suits travellers who want to read what other Edinburgh renters said before they commit, or compare campervan and motorhome models by bed layout and size.
If you have never driven a campervan, the range includes smaller, easier-to-drive models. Because you can cancel up to 31 days before pick-up, booking now costs little if your plans change: check campervan availability in Edinburgh for your festive dates.
FAQs About Campsites Near Edinburgh
Which campsites near Edinburgh are open in winter?
The campsites near Edinburgh open in winter 2026/27 are Mortonhall, the Edinburgh Club Campsite, Drummohr, Linwater and Beecraigs. Mortonhall and the Club site are inside the city, Drummohr is 2 miles from Musselburgh, Linwater is near East Calder and Beecraigs is 2 miles from Linlithgow. All five list year-round opening and take campervans and motorhomes. Beecraigs does not accept tents in winter.
What is the closest campsite to Edinburgh city centre?
The closest campsite to Edinburgh city centre is Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park, about 4 miles south of the centre. Buses leave from the park entrance every ten minutes, according to Alan Rogers. The Edinburgh Club Campsite on Marine Drive, about 3 miles north-west of the centre, is the other option inside the city.
Do campsites near Edinburgh charge the visitor levy?
Campsites near Edinburgh charge the 5% visitor levy when they sit inside the City of Edinburgh boundary, which includes Mortonhall and the Edinburgh Club Campsite. The levy has applied to stays since 24 July 2026 and is capped at five consecutive nights. Linwater also states that it applies the levy. Drummohr in East Lothian and Beecraigs in West Lothian are outside the Edinburgh scheme.
Can you stay at a campsite near Edinburgh over Hogmanay?
You can stay at a campsite near Edinburgh over Hogmanay, since all five sites in this guide list opening through 29 December to 1 January. Hogmanay 2026/27 runs from the Torchlight Procession on 29 December to New Year’s Day events on 1 January 2027. The Street Party on Thursday 31 December needs a ticket. Book your pitch as soon as your dates are fixed.
Can you wild camp in a campervan near Edinburgh?
You cannot rely on wild camping in a campervan near Edinburgh, because the access rights in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code do not cover motorised vehicles. Those rights apply to people on foot, bike or horseback, including camping with a tent. A campervan needs a campsite, a designated stopover or a landowner’s permission for an overnight stop.
Is the Edinburgh Christmas market open on Christmas Day?
The Edinburgh Christmas market is not open on Christmas Day, though it runs every other day from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The main market in East Princes Street Gardens normally opens from 10am to 10pm with around 70 stalls. Entry to the market is free, while rides like the Big Wheel need a ticket.
How do I get from a campsite to the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party?
The easiest way to get from a campsite to the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party is by bus or train, leaving the van at your pitch. Roads around the city centre close for the Hogmanay events, and the Low Emission Zone applies to the centre year-round. From Mortonhall, buses run from the park entrance, and from Drummohr, trains from Wallyford reach Waverley in about 10 minutes. Check Lothian Buses’ Hogmanay night bus timetable for your return after midnight.
Is it too cold to stay in a campervan in Edinburgh in winter?
A campervan stay in Edinburgh in winter is comfortable on a pitch with an electric hook-up, which all five campsites in this guide offer. The Edinburgh Club Campsite has 16-amp electricity on all 146 pitches, and Linwater has a 16-amp hook-up on every touring pitch. Hardstanding pitches keep the van level when grass is wet. Pack warm layers for evenings in the city, where you will spend most of your time outdoors.
Can I rent a campervan in Edinburgh if I have never driven one?
You can rent a campervan in Edinburgh if you have never driven one, and the Indie Campers range includes smaller, easier-to-drive models for first-timers. You collect the van at the Edinburgh depot, and booking, reservation changes and support all run online, with help available 24/7. Payment is due 30 days before pick-up, and you can cancel up to 31 days before it.
